title: Titanium microbead-based porous implants: bead size controls cell response and host integration.
abstract: Openly porous structures in implants are desirable for better integration with the host tissue. Sintered microbead-based titanium implants for oto-rhinolaryngology applications, which create an environment where the cells can migrate in the areas between the microbeads, are developed. This structure promotes fibrovascular tissue formation within the implant in vivo. In this study, it is determine to what extent these events can be controlled by changing the physical environment of the implants both in vitro and in vivo. By cell tracking, it is observed that the size of the beads and the distance between the neighboring beads significantly affect the ability of cells to develop cell-to-cell contacts and to bridge the pores. Live cell staining shows that as the bead size gets smaller, the probability to observe cells that fill the porous areas is higher. This also affects the initial attachment and distribution of the cells and collagen secretion by fibroblasts. Obtaining a fast coverage of the system also enables co-culture systems where, the number and the distribution of the second cell type are boosted by the presence of the first. This concept is utilized to increase the attachment of vascular endothelial cells by an initial layer of fibroblasts. By decreasing the bead diameter, the overall colonization of the implant can be significantly increased in vivo. The effect of bead size has a similar pattern both in rats and rabbits, with faster colonization of smaller bead-based structures. Using smaller beads would improve clinical outcomes as faster integration facilitates the attainment of functionality by the implant.
authors.affiliation: INSERM, UMR-S 1121, "Biomatériaux et Bioingénierie", 11 rue Humann, F-67085 Strasbourg Cedex, France; Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, 1 place de l'Hôpital, 67000 Strasbourg, France. engin.vrana@protip.fr.
authors.forename: Nihal Engin
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Vrana
authors.forename: Agnès
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dupret-Bories
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schultz
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Debry
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vautier
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lavalle
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; D006801:Humans; D055104:Infusions, Subcutaneous; D051379:Mice; D008863:Microspheres; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D010316:Particle Size; D016062:Porosity; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen; D014025:Titanium
keywords: host integration; in vivo; porous implants; titanium; trachea